Full name Brian Elwin Haner, Jr. Role Musician | Name Synyster Gates | |
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Instruments Guitar, vocals, drums, piano, bass guitar, violin Spouse Michelle DiBenedetto (m. 2010) Siblings McKenna Haner, Brent Haner Similar People Zacky Vengeance, M Shadows, The Rev, Johnny Christ, Arin Ilejay | ||
Birth name Brian Elwin Haner, Jr. Also known as Synyster Gates, Syn | ||
Usa musicians institute schecter synyster gates guitar scholarship 140829
Brian Elwin Haner Jr. (born July 7, 1981), better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn, is an American musician, best known for being the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the band Avenged Sevenfold. He ranks No. 87 on Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time. In 2016, Gates was voted as Best metal Guitarist in the World by Total Guitar.
Contents
- Usa musicians institute schecter synyster gates guitar scholarship 140829
- Guitar center master class with synyster gates
- Early life
- Influences
- Avenged Sevenfold
- Pinkly Smooth
- Personal life
- With Avenged Sevenfold
- With Pinkly Smooth
- Featured guest appearances
- Guitars
- References
Guitar center master class with synyster gates
Early life
Synyster Gates is the son of musician, author, and comedian Brian Haner, Sr., who worked with Sam the Sham's band in the 1970s and has done session work for Avenged Sevenfold. Gates studied at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, California, as part of the Guitar Institute of Music program, studying jazz and classical guitar. Gates is of German and Spanish descent.
Influences
Besides metal music, Synyster Gates is a big fan of jazz, classical and avant-garde. He cites Dimebag Darrell, John Petrucci, Slash, Marty Friedman, Zakk Wylde, Allan Holdsworth, Tony Lombardo, Gumby and Frank Gambale as his artistic influences.
Avenged Sevenfold
Gates was featured on the EP Warmness on the Soul which contains select songs from the first album as well as his new version of "To End The Rapture". His name on Avenged Sevenfold's debut album was "Synyster Gates".
On the Avenged Sevenfold DVD All Excess, Gates claimed that his name was created on a drunken drive through the park with the Rev.
Gates was voted Sexiest Male in the 2008 Kerrang Readers Poll. In 2010, Guitar World listed him as one of the 30 greatest shredders of all time. They described him as being able to perform finger-twisting licks, acrobatic sweeps, devilish chromatics and towering dual-harmonies. Gates was chosen as one of Guitar Hero's 50 fastest guitarists. On Guitar World's 2010 Readers Poll, Gates was chosen Snappiest Dresser and the Best Metal Guitarist. Rock One Magazine's 2010 Readers Poll voted Gates the No. 3 best musician in the industry. On April 20, 2011, Gates won the Revolver Golden God award for Best Guitarist along with bandmate, Zacky Vengeance. Avenged Sevenfold picked up numerous other awards and delivered the headlining performance of the night. In the Special Edition of Revolver magazine that was released the same day as the Nightmare album, Gates stated that he originally started out writing the song "So Far Away" in honor of his grandfather. However, the song is now primarily about his former bandmate, best friend and previous drummer of A7X, the Rev, who died on December 28, 2009.
Pinkly Smooth
Gates and The Rev played in an experimental metal band named Pinkly Smooth. Formed in the summer of 2001 in Huntington Beach, California, the band featured ex-Ballistico members Buck Silverspur on bass and D-Rock on drums. The band released one album, Unfortunate Snort on Bucktan Records, which features a crossover sound of mostly punk, ska and progressive metal. Former Avenged Sevenfold bassist Justin Sane played keyboards and piano on the album. There was speculation that Pinkly Smooth was going to produce another record, but due to the death of the Rev, it is highly unlikely that they will produce any more material. However, Gates has said that he would consider remastering the tracks from Unfortunate Snort and re-releasing the album.
Personal life
Synyster Gates married Michelle DiBenedetto on May 7, 2010. On May 12, 2017, the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Nicolangelo "Nicci" Saint James Haner.
Michelle's sister, Valary, is married to M. Shadows, making Shadows and Gates brothers-in-law.
With Avenged Sevenfold
With Pinkly Smooth
Featured guest appearances
Guitars
Synyster Gates uses mainly Schecter Guitars. Schecter Guitar Research has been sponsoring him and he has signature Avenger models. He has also been using Gibson Guitars when Avenged Sevenfold was recording Waking the Fallen and City of Evil. He has his own Seymour Duncan pickups, a custom SH-8 Invader, with Black, Gold, White or Chrome caps.